Courts told never to ban media after Tower Hamlets foster case

Sir James Munby, the most senior family court judge, is leading a drive for greater transparencyCHRIS HARRIS/THE TIMES

Courts were ordered never to ban the media from their buildings yesterday after journalists covering the case of a Christian girl fostered by a Muslim family were refused entry.

Security staff were told to bar reporters from the East London family court the day after the judge in the case praised The Times for acting responsibly in raising “very concerning matters” of “legitimate public interest”.

Journalists were given increased access to family court hearings by the government in 2009 after an award-winning campaign by The Times for open justice.

The banning of reporters from the court building yesterday led to concerns about the lack of transparency in the family courts, which have far-reaching powers including whether children should be put up for adoption or taken…